Challenging gender mainstreaming through the narrative of Islamic youth organization: A case study on Persis in Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Implementing gender mainstreaming policies has become one important strategy for solving gender-based issues in society, especially in developing countries like Indonesia. However, one anomaly that becomes a concern in Indonesia’s gender mainstreaming strategy is how religious youth organizations would conflictingly react to this issue, as they may become a determining factor in how society would shift in dealing with gender issues. This study investigates the youth in Persis, a prominent Islamic youth organization in Indonesia, to understand gender mainstreaming in Indonesia. Using a qualitative approach and case study design, the study revealed that informants have doubts, skepticism, and slight conflict towards gender mainstreaming policies, due to misunderstandings and differences in personal and religious beliefs. This study provides insights into the gender mainstreaming views of a religious youth organization and how gender-based policies, programs, and research on gender have been and could be implemented in Indonesia.

ABSTRACT IN BAHASA INDONESIA

Implementasi kebijakan pengarusutamaan gender telah menjadi strategi penting untuk menyelesaikan isu-isu berbasis gender di masyarakat, terutama di negara berkembang seperti Indonesia. Namun, satu anomali yang menjadi perhatian dalam strategi pengarusutamaan gender di Indonesia adalah bagaimana organisasi pemuda keagamaan akan bereaksi secara kontradiktif terhadap isu ini, karena mereka dapat menjadi faktor penentu bagaimana masyarakat akan bergeser dalam menghadapi isu gender. Studi ini mengkaji Persis, sebuah organisasi pemuda Islam terkemuka di Indonesia, untuk memahami pengarusutamaan gender di Indonesia. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, penelitian ini mengungkapkan bahwa informan memiliki keraguan, skeptisisme, dan sedikit konflik terhadap kebijakan pengarusutamaan gender, karena kesalahpahaman dan perbedaan keyakinan pribadi dan agama. Studi ini memberikan wawasan tentang pandangan pengarusutamaan gender dari organisasi pemuda keagamaan dan bagaimana kebijakan, program, dan penelitian berbasis gender telah dan harus diterapkan di Indonesia.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender mainstreaming
• islamic youth organization
• Indonesia
• case study
• Persis

KEYWORDS:

• Pengarusutamaan gender
• organisasi pemuda Islam
• Indonesia
• studi kasus
• Persis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to their colleagues at the Center of Excellence, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia for their support and encouragement in the writing and publication of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Policies that are referenced from Saleha and Tirtariandi (2015) consist of the 2009 development of a Gender Budget Statement issued by Ministerial regulation and the Indonesian ministry of education, Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2010 concerning the Acceleration of Development Priorities for state welfare to increase the protection of women workers and the elimination of child labor, Circular No. 615/Menkes/E/IV/2004 concerning the implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in the Health Sector with the Indonesian Ministry of Health, along with The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, The Department of Social Affairs, The Department of Forestry’s implementation of various programs/activities that are responsive and have a gender perspective, and other implementations with Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries with Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection No. 06 MEN-KP/KB/III/2011 and No. 12 of 2011 concerning the Effectiveness of Gender Mainstreaming in the Maritime and Fisheries Sector. These aspects of gender mainstreaming policies have shown efforts and interest of the state to execute to accomplish such efforts in gender equality and empowerment through government policies.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mohammad Fahri Husaeni

Mohammad Fahri HUSAENI (corresponding author) is a junior assistant researcher from the Department of Sociology Education, Faculty of Social Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. He is interested in the discourse and scientific analysis of contemporary gender studies in developing countries such as Indonesia, along with political and sociological analysis of developing counties. Email: [email protected]

Aceng Kosasih

Aceng KOSASIH is a professor at the Department of Islamic Education, Faculty of Social Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. He specializes in Islamic education, ranging from curriculum, moral and social development of students, and the development of theory and philosophical practice of Islamic teaching. Email: [email protected]

Udin Supriadi

Udin SUPRIADI is a professor at the Department of Islamic Education, Faculty of Social Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. He specializes in curriculum development in education, Islamic education, and module development of teaching. Email: [email protected]